Explore southern Tanzania's national parks

Tanzania has a total of 14 parks and nature reserves. Those in the south of the country are less visited than their northern counterparts, but no less beautiful. This is especially true of Ruaha National Park, 373 miles west of Dar es Salaam. You'll find nearly every kind of savanna-dwelling animal and nearly 1,650 species of plants here, including baobab trees.

The Selous reserve, in the southeast of the country, is also well worth exploring. By boat, in a 4x4, or on foot you can watch elephants meander through the wild and spot lions and leopards languidly drinking from the Rufiji River. For great photography opportunities, consider setting off for Mikumi Reserve to get a closer look at the park's thousand-strong buffalo herds.

Near the Malawi border, Kitulo National Park puts one of the world’s most beautiful flower displays. It's known as the "Serengeti of Flowers" or "God's Garden" for good reason. Come to snap photos of some 350 plant varieties and breathe in the sweet scent of orchids.